Tuesday, August 2, 2016

In 2010, eMagazine Presense started an initiative to honour the top performing Parliamentarians based on different parameters every year after the Budget Session with Sansad Ratna Awards. The selection process is transparent based on the data released by PRS India. This Award is given on behalf of the civil society. 8th edition of Sansad Ratna Awards will be held at Chennai during June / July 2017 at IIT Madras, after the Budget Sesssion 2017. Editorial Team of ezine PreSense has constituted an independent Committee of experts from different fields to monitor the performance of Parliamentarians and to assist the Judges of selection committee.

Sansad Ratna Awards Committee 2016-17

(consisting of civil society members)

Selection Committee Judges

Shri Anandrao Adsul MP

Shri Hansraj G Ahir, MOS Home

Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal MOS Finance

(The above three Parliamentarians are the Sansad Maha Ratna Awardees for consistent and outstanding performance in the 15th Lok Sabha)

Rajaji Centre for Public Affairs organised a talk by Prime Point Srinivasan on "Role of Parliamentarians" on Sunday the 17th July 2016. Many eminent persons like Shri B S Raghavan (Former IAS Officier and who served with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru), Shri G Narayanaswamy (famous Chartered Accountant and President of Rajaji Centre) and Dr Sridharan (Former Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Member) were also present.

Prime Point Srinivasan explained the functioning of the Parliament and the constitutional responsibilities of both the Houses. He also compared how Parliamentarians can participate in the proceedigns of the House under various opportunities. He also compared the performance of 15th Lok Sabha and the present Lok Sabha under different parameters.

The power point presentation is embedded here for the benefit of public.

Sunday, June 19, 2016

National Seminar on Politics, Democracy and Governance (5th edition) and Sansad Ratna Awards 2016 (7th Edition) was held at IIT Madras on 11th June 2016. This programme was organised by Prime Point Foundation, eMagazine PreSense jointly with IIT Madras. Please visit previous postings.

A Panel discussion was held on 'Electoral Reforms'. T S Krishna Murthy (Former Chief Election Commissioner of India), Arjun Ram Meghwal (Chief Whip of BJP) and T K Rangarajan (CPIM Rajya Sabha MP) were the panelists. Popular TV anchor S A Hariharan moderated the programme. Please watch the video. T S Krishna Murthy, when he was the Chief Election Commissioner of India, submitted an official recommendation to the then Prime Minister in 2004 suggesting Electoral Reforms. This recommendation is the only official document pending with Government of India for action. Click here to download the original recommendation.

National Seminar on Politics, Democracy and Governance (5th edition) and Sansad Ratna Awards (7th edition) were held at IIT Madras on 11th June 2016. Six MPs were honoured with Sansad Ratna Awards by Prime Point Foundation and eMagazine PreSense.

Dr C Rangarajan (Former Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Reserve Bank of India) presented the Awards. During his speech he emphasised the need for the members to discuss not on party lines, but on their own individual perceptions. Please download the script of his speech.

Dr Bhaskar Ramamurthy, Director of IIT Madras in his Key Note address offered to provide intern students at the disposal of MPs to make a study in their constituency for any development using technology.

Prime Point Srinivasan, Founder of Sansad Ratna Awards in his welcome speech explained the process of transparent selection process. He said that the Awards were being given on behalf of the civil society. When the Civil Society took the pains of identifying the good performers, he appealed to the political parties to utilise their talents for the benefit of the society.

Selection Committee Members Hansraj G Ahir (Hon'ble Minister of State) and Arjun Ram Meghwal (Chief Whip of BJP) were the Guests of Honour. They were the outstanding Parliamentarians of 15th Lok Sabha and were honoured with 'Sansad Maha Ratna' Award for their sustained performance in 15th Lok Sabha.

Dr C Rangarajan in his address wanted the debates in Parliament should not be on party lines, but should be based on the views of individual members.

Dr Bhaskar Ramamurthy, Director of IIT Madras offered to send intern students to MP's constituencies to study and recommend projects involving technology for the benefit of the people. Arjun Ram Meghwal, voluntarily offered to accept interns for his Bikanir constituency.

Prime Point Srinivasan, Founder of Sansad Ratna Awards in his welcome address, appealed to all political parties to utilise the services of performing members for the benefit of the society.

About this Award

Prime Point Foundation has been honouring the top performing Members of Parliament based on their performance in the House. (Questions raised, debates participated, issues raised, private bills introduced and attendance),

From 2012, the Foundation has named this award as 'Sansad Ratna Award'.